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Limbic system fos expression associated with paternal behavior
B Kirkpatrick1, J W Kim, T R Insel
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21228.
Abstract:
Axon-sparing lesions of the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA) decrease male parental behavior in the highly social prairie vole. To assess further the role of the amygdala in paternal behavior, male and female prairie voles were exposed to a pup or a non-social olfactory stimulus for 3 hours, and cells expressing Fos peptide were labelled using immunocytochemistry. Compared to controls, males exposed to a pup showed an increase in Fos expression in the MeA, as well as in several areas with connections to it: the accessory olfactory bulb, lateral septum, medial preoptic area, medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, nucleus reuniens and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus. There was no increase in Fos immunoreactivity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus or piriform cortex. The same pattern of Fos expression was found in female voles, with the exception of the thalamic paraventricular nucleus, where there was an increase in the pup-exposed group that was not statistically significant (P = 0.11). In addition, the magnitude of induction in females was markedly less than that in males in the medial preoptic area. These results provide further evidence that the MeA is involved in paternal behavior, and suggest certain other areas previously implicated in meternal behavior may also be involved in the control of paternal behavior in this species.
Insights
The medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA) is crucial for paternal behavior in prairie voles. Pup exposure increases Fos expression in the MeA and connected brain regions in males, indicating neural activation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Endocrinology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA) plays a role in male parental behavior in prairie voles.
- Previous research indicates that lesions in the MeA decrease paternal care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To further investigate the role of the amygdala in paternal behavior.
- To identify brain regions activated during pup exposure in prairie voles.
Main Methods:
- Male and female prairie voles were exposed to pups or non-social olfactory stimuli for 3 hours.
- Immunocytochemistry was used to label cells expressing Fos peptide, a marker of neural activity.
Main Results:
- Males exposed to pups showed increased Fos expression in the MeA and connected areas, including the accessory olfactory bulb, lateral septum, medial preoptic area, medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, nucleus reuniens, and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus.
- Females showed a similar pattern of Fos expression, but with less magnitude in the medial preoptic area and no significant increase in the thalamic paraventricular nucleus.
- No significant Fos increase was observed in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus or piriform cortex.
Conclusions:
- The medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA) is involved in the neural control of paternal behavior.
- Brain regions previously associated with maternal behavior may also contribute to paternal behavior regulation in prairie voles.